The Late Late Toy Show lived up to host Ryan Tubridy's billing as a night that showcases Ireland at its best, raising over €4.46 million for charities in the process - with a little help from Ed Sheeran.
The biggest - and loveliest - television night of the year welcomed back a studio audience and doubled-down on the wow factor of last year's set and costumes.
The show kicked off with a big screen-saluting opening medley of Hakuna Matata and The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Inspired by the Disney classic The Lion King, Ryan Tubridy and the young stars of the show travelled to the plains of Africa via Canon Mooney Gardens in Ringsend and the Late Late's home base. Like the entire night, it was big, colourful and exactly what viewers needed at the end of a tough week. And year.
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But the best - friendship, guests, surprises - was still waiting in the long grass, with viewers also finding over €3.3m to give to the Late Late Toy Show Appeal along the way.
The first toy tester was superhero-loving, mischief-making five-year-old Alanna La Fontaine from Cork, whose enthusiasm for her new role was as infectious as her laugh.
Alanna was followed by Róisín Dolan, aged five, from Leitrim. She dazzled with her knowledge of dinosaurs before it all became a little too much in one of those too-cute moments that makes the year's wait worth it for fans at home and around the world.
The youngest star of the night was Lorcan Ryan, aged four from Clonmel, Co Tipperary. He presented his credentials as a budding chef, suggesting his own RTÉ show could be in the offing in a year or two.
A super-charged dance number from the Kieran brothers - DJ Calum and his 'Hype Man' Jackson - saw them gobsmacked as new equipment arrived to enhance their future sets. The young Dubs' reaction was music to everyone's ears.
Eight-year-old LEGO master Finn Ryan from Waterford then shared his story of how the blocks helped him as he was receiving treatment for cancer in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. Having rung the bell after finishing his treatment, Finn rang it again in solidarity with other children who are still in hospital.
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There was a big treat to come - a trip for Finn and his family to LEGO in Denmark. His eyes grew wider as the details were revealed and his lovely, modest "thank you" at the end was a Toy Show moment to treasure with all the rest.
Nine-year-old fashionista Abigale Heavey from Galway was more than ready for her close-up as she put the toys - and her host - through their paces.
Eleven-year-old William Woods from Cavan shared his loved of farming, showing, like all his co-stars, that the place is in good hands.
Fourteen-year-old harpist Úna Walsh from Wexford then dazzled with her performance of A Million Dreams, one of the best musical numbers - and most-deserved bows - in Toy Show history.
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Sports-mad best pals Darcy Henry (nine) and Poppy Moore (10) from Coolock were surprised by Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington, who revealed that even she applies for Toy Show tickets every year. The champ's message to all the children watching was "just be yourself". As ever, the show was always about just that.
The performance of Can You Feel the Love Tonight? answered its own question while the Ryan Tubridy and Paudie-led cover of Harry Styles' Treat People with Kindness was indeed "a place to feel good".
More dreams came true when 12-year-old Isabella Sydney from Ennis, Co Clare received a trip to Paris - including the Louvre and Eurodisney - for all the family in arguably the sweetest screen moment this year.
But the biggest surprise was saved until near last as Ed Sheeran joined the Toy Show Appeal Choir for a cover of his song Leave Your Life. Hearts melted - again! - and there were laughs as the superstar revealed that one of his backing singers wasn't a huge fan of Bad Habits. Not taking it personally, he then invited all the members of the choir to his Irish gigs in 2022.
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After the break, the chart-topper duly filled in his application for future Toy Show co-host, playing the drawing game Pencil Nose with budding Cork rappers Jamie Forde and Coben Cullen. "Thanks for having me, guys," he smiled. Same time next year, then?
The show closed with a rendition of The Circle of Life, the lyric "it moves us all" never more at home than in the Late Late Toy Show studio.
"From the team, and myself, we truly hope you had a brilliant Toy Show night," said Ryan Tubridy, signing off. "That you enjoyed yourselves, that it's brought you all some laughter, brought you together."
All of the above.
Catch up on the Late Late Toy Show on the RTÉ Player.
